By Dr David Atte.
Let me address them by also delving into some historical perspectives too.
1. Kwara is complicated. Only Ilorin made a submission at various Punlic Hearings that they want to stay in the North. By saying that, they think they are speaking for the Ilorin Emirate as a whole but 90% of Asa and Moro want to go to the SW. Remember that Ilorin’s origin is Yoruba. When the Fulani came they intermarried extensively to create an elite class that call the shots and identify with the North to maintain their privilege. The Oba of Ilorin before Sulu Gambari the 1st had the title, Oba Aiyelabowo the 2nd. Other people called him Emir but realising his strong Yoruba roots he called himself Oba Aiyelabowo II. In the 80s and 90s onwards the elite of Ilorin began to identify with the North more and more. Most of even these elites bear Yoruba names and can’t speak any Hausa at all. The current Emir of Ilorin ascended the throne as KOLAPO Sulu Gambari. In order not to be called a Yoruba man by his fellow Northern Emirs, he later dropped the KOLAPO. The present Chief of Staff to the President is Ibrahim AGBOOLA Gambari – he can’t speak Hausa. You heard of LANRE Kawu, OLANREWAJU Suleiman etc etc. Virtually all of them have a Yoruba name because Ilorin is Yoruba. Is there any other language in the whole of Ilorin Emirate except Yoruba? No major one. The Father of the present Governor of Kwara State was from Ilesa. He was the first Northern Nigerian lawyer. I knew him VERY well. I remember in the 80s that some Ilorin elites opposed his ambition to be governor because “He was a non indigene”. There are even some of these elite who have both first, middle and surname Yoruba names. The rest of Ilorin Emirate population is still 90% indigenous Yorubas.
2. The whole of Kwara South- IGBOMINA (Ifelodun and Irepodun), EKITI and OYUN (Ibolo Offa, Erin, .Ojoku, Ipee) have firmly declared to go to the S.W. Both Eruku and Koro are in Ifelodun LGA)
3. Lokoja was part of old Oyo Empire and is originally an Oworo settlement. The current Maigeri is a Kano man. That is the manipulation of the Caliphate of Northern Nigera. The Olu of Oworo lives on Oworoland (Lokoja). There is currently a court case between the Maigeri and the Oworo People to establish the fact of ownership. Unfortunately or fortunately the two lawyers representing both sides are OKUN (Bayo Ojo SAN, for the Maigeri and John Baiyesea SAN for our Oworo Okun People). It is hoped that the case will be settled in favour of the owners of the land. Suffice to say that apart from Igala and Ebira who are in Lokoja mainly as workers and will go back to their own native homes, Lokoja is 70% Okun/Oworo and other Yorubas.
4. Now for Nupe populations of Abugi (originally Abuji), Buddon, Patigi (originally Patiji) and others South of the Niger River. Except Pategi which originally is a mix of Yoruba and Nupe as a trading post between the Oyo Empire and the Nupe, but became more predominantly Nupe after the collapse of the Oyo Empire and the Nupe invasion) all the other settlements post dated the Nupe invasion.
5. Now what will happen with these Nupe settlements, Ilorin and the Yagba settlements in Kwara?. We Okun are demanding for the implementation of the Report of the Willink’s Commission, i.e that all Minorities who find themselves cut off from their majority tribes should be given the right, through a referendum, either to remain as a minority in the place where they find themselves or to be merged with their majority tribes. We in Okun say we are Yoruba and the land on which we dwell is Yorubaland. We are therefore not Northerners. We want to rejoin the SW Yoruba as a State of our own. (Yesterday, I still saw a Yoruba document which lists all the States in the SW as Ekiti, Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Okun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo). After the referendums, there will be boundary adjustments to reflect the reality on ground. What applies to us will apply to others too. I expect that Pategi, Abugi, Buddon etc which are predominantly Nupe will vote to join Niger State (while some other minorities in Niger State will leave too). I expect the Gbagyi to demand for an autonomous State of theur own while the Nupe have their own. Borgu will likely leave too. The Yagba in Kwara by that same referendum process will decide whether they want to remain there or join Okun State. I have no idea about the current feelings in Eruku and Koro but I am sure Agboro and co will join the rest of Yagba
The indigenous population of Ilorin Emirate will outvote the Fulani elite if a fair and free referendum is allowed in which case Ilorin’s preference for the North will not hold.
There remain two other areas of Kwara. The Lafiagi Nupe will likely vote to merge with a Nupe State or feel that they are getting benefits in Kwara which they cannot get in Nupe State. Finally there is the Baruba who border with Niger Republic. They border Oyo State to the South and Benin Republic (Parakou Borgu) to the West. Those in Kaima LGA and include settlements like Okuta, Yashikira, Ilesa Baruba, Babana etc are Baruba People. The people of Kaima itself and surrounding settlements are Kemberi. I was in Ilesa Baruba some time in 2019. It’s like any other Yoruba town. In fact the tarred road from Saki stops less than 1km from Ilesa Baruba. Some 11km away is Igboho. The Baruba People have never been part of the Sokoto Caliphate. What is interesting to note is that the Baruba army fought on the side of the Yoruba against the Jihad Army and helped to defeat it. Another interesting thing is that a lot of Ogbomoso people are Baruba. In fact the Oriki and praise songs of the Soun of Ogbomoso make mention of ancestry of the Ogbomoso Ruling House to be Baruba. Baruba area is the most neglected part of Kwara State. Most of the bit of civilisation and facilities they get come from Oke Ogun of Oyo State. My permutation is that the Baruba of Kwara State may vote to join Oke Ogun of Oyo State with who they have far more afinity than the rest of Kwara. Geography also dictates that the Baruba are really cut off from the rest of Kwara so development has not reached them . The prospects from Oyo State is better. Remember that Oke Ogun too has been agitating for One Ogun State. If this works it will be to the great advantage of the Baruba who will promptly leave Kwara.
Sorry this is long but I have gone into some details to enlighten our young people. The powers that be in the North abolished the teaching of History in schools so that details of the minority Status of the Fulani will be kept hidden. Ignorance of facts on the ground will also prevent agitations for freedom. The new masters will not want people to know that they are IMPOSTORS. That is why I tell histories on this platform
whenever there is an opportunity.
